Aberdare Park

Background Information
The Aberdare National Park is part of the Aberdare Mountain Range, a fascinating region of Kenya. According to traditional Kikuyu folklore they are one of the homes of Ngai (God). The total area of the park is 767 km2. The park boundary roughly runs along the 10,000ft contour. The topography is diverse, Mountain ranges and peaks soar to around 14,000ft., giving way to canyon like V- shaped valleys that give way to gentler valleys separated by steep hills and rocky outcrops. Streams and rivers cascade down through spectacular waterfalls. The park is an important water catchment providing water to the Tana and Athi rivers and part of central rift and northern drainage basins. Above the forest is a belt of bamboo, a favourite haunt of the Bongo, a rare and elusive forest antelope. At 10,000ft. The bamboo gives way to moorland, home to eland, spotted and melanistic serval cats. Other features are the giant alpine varieties of lobelia, groundsel and heather.Animal life is most abundant in the forest zone. Elephants, buffalo, bongo and black rhino amongÂ others represent large mammals. Carnivores include lion and leopard, whereas baboon, black and white colobus and sykes monkeys represent primates.
* Elephants;
* Black rhinos in salient and Northern Aberdares;
* Tree-tops and parks associated with the UK royal family;
* The Kimathi Hideout, The Legendary Mau Mau General;
* Trout fishing in ice cold Gura Karuru and Chania rivers; and
* Night viewing of wildlife at the Ark (built like the Ark of Noah) & Treetops.

ACCESS:
Roads: The park is readily accessible on tarmac from Nyeri and Naro Moru on the eastern side (160 kms from Nairobi).
A road crosses the park to connect with another from Naivasha and North Kinangop on the west. The main towns from which the park can be approached are Nyeri (154 km from Nairobi) Nyahururu (188 km from Nairobi) and Naivasha (87 km from Nairobi).
Airstrips: Mweiga Airstrip, next to the park headquarters or Nyeri Airstrip which is 12 km from Mweiga headquarters.
PARK GATES:
Ark Gate
Treetops Gate
Ruhuruini Gate
Kiandagoro Gate
Mutubio, Wandare, Shamata and Rhino

CLIMATE:
Mist and rain occur throughout much of the year, with precipitation varying from around 1000mm yearly on the north western slopes to as much as 3000mm in the south east. Heavy rainfall occurs through most of the year.

SAFARI CARD REQUIRED?
Entry is by SafariCard only. Safaricards may be loaded – but not obtained at The Mweiga Park HQ

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS:
Lesatima peak, Kinangop peak, waterfalls, walks in the moorlands, Twin hills, Elephant hills and Table mountains, Second largest population of black rhinos in Salient and Northern Aberdare, Queen Elizabeth learned of her accession to the throne at Tree-tops Lodge, The Kimathi Hideout/Mau Mau caves,

WILDLIFE:
The park is home to most of the larger mammals, having a large population of black rhino. The park is home to most endangered species which include: the rare Bongo, Giant Forest Hog, Packs of the now very rare Wild dogs and Endemic mole rate and mole shrew.
Other game include: Leopard, Serval cats, Endemic bird species, reptiles, insects.
BIRDS:
The prolific bird life features 250 recorded species.